MARYLAND, UNITED STATES — Baltimore-based activewear giant Under Armour just signed Philadelphia 76er‘s center Joel Embiid to an endorsement deal.

For the Cameroonian professional basketball player, his newly inked deal is going to be “bigger than just shoes.”

Turning aside other reported suitors including Puma and New Balance, the prominent NBA player instead opted for a five-year apparel and footwear endorsement deal with Under Armour. He had previously been sponsored by Adidas.

At Under Armour, Embiid joins Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, rapper A$AP Rocky (see it here) and others. The terms of the deal were not disclosed but ESPN reported that the endorsement will make him the highest paid center in the NBA.

Under Armour’s website posted, Embiid wrote: “When I sat down with Under Armour, one of the first things we talked about was how this can be bigger than just shoes, bigger than just basketball. I want to help change people’s lives.”

“Basketball has given me everything, but it has to be bigger than basketball. That was the first thing that I said to Under Armour, and they were behind it 100 percent. This isn’t about a shoe deal. I mean, listen…I’m gonna make sure they design some shoes as pretty as I am. Don’t worry about that. We’re gonna take care of that. But this is bigger than that. I want to use this partnership to do something real. I want to do something that would make my brother proud. And I want to start in Philly.”

His brother was killed in a car accident shortly after the Cameroon native was drafted to play in the NBA.

Under Armour declined to comment on the size of the endorsement deal or when the first footwear and apparel will hit the market. However, he will wear the company’s HOVR Havoc at the start of the NBA season.

Donovan is the CEO and Editor-In-Chief of www.dmfashionbook.com. For all general inquiries please email don@dmfashionbook.com
Donovan has a BA in Journalism & Media Studies from the prestigious Rutgers University. He's currently studying entertainment and fashion law.